title: Tumor cell invasion and gap junctional communication. II. Normal and malignant cells confronted in multicell spheroids.
abstract: The invasive behavior of five tumor cell lines was investigated with an in vitro invasion assay developed by Mareel et al. Spheroids of all 5 cell lines readily attached to precultured heart fragments (PHF), resulting in confronting pairs. Tumor cells (BICR/M1Rk, C6, and EMT6/Ro) which communicated with the host tissue via gap junctions, rapidly invaded the PHF within 3 days. Population doubling time or migratory activities had no influence on the invasion process. The noncoupled HeLa and L cells formed a cellular capsule around the PHF and showed no invasive activities. HeLa cells, however, started to destroy the PHF after 4 days. We suggest a mechanism different from that of coupled tumor cells. Epithelioid HeLa cells are linked by numerous tight junctions and may, therefore, cut off the nutrition supply for the inner-laying PHF, resulting in a disintegration of the heart tissue.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Department, University of Stuttgart, FRG.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bräuner
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hülser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009940:Organoids; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured